Sheriff's office will continue to manage Hennepin Co. Crime Lab

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Hennepin County sheriff's office will remain in charge of the Hennepin County Crime Lab after a county commissioner withdrew her amendment to change the crime lab's management.

At a Hennepin County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Marion Greene backed off on her proposal to put county administrators in charge of the crime lab, which is responsible for processing evidence for 44 cities in Hennepin County 

The proposal had drawn criticism from Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek and other law enforcement officials, who argued the change could jeopardize investigations and lead to slower evidence processing. 

The commissioners said separating the lab from law enforcement would help guarantee impartial results and save money.